Freelancers are competing in a global marketplace of more than 1.5 billion people, so standing out on the right platforms is critical. Behance, Adobe’s portfolio site, has evolved from a gallery of inspiration into a professional network where creatives can land paid work directly.
In this guide, you’ll learn how Behance works, how to build a profile that attracts clients, where to find Behance jobs, strategies for winning proposals and how Behance compares to other creative job platforms like Dribbble and Upwork.
While Behance is powerful, you can improve your visibility by listing your portfolio on multiple platforms. Create an international profile on internationalbusinesslisting.com to showcase your services to businesses globally. Exposure on additional business‑focused directories increases the chances that clients will find you and send inquiries.
How Behance Works
Here is how Behance works:
A Portfolio and Social Network Combined
Behance lets creatives post projects – case studies that combine images, text, videos and process shots – to build an online portfolio. Unlike static websites, it functions as a social network: users follow each other, appreciate work and leave comments.
This engagement surfaces projects in Behance’s algorithm; high‑engagement projects are more likely to appear on the front page or get curated into galleries where clients are looking for talent. The platform integrates with Adobe’s Creative Cloud for seamless uploads and offers built‑in tools for project discovery and analytics.
The Hire Me and Job Listings
Behance features a “Hire Me” button on each profile. Turning it on and listing your creative services – with estimated pricing and timelines – allows potential clients to send inquiries. Behance also hosts a dedicated Joblist that you can browse even without an account.
Through the Jobs tab, you can filter by “Freelance” or “Full‑time,” search by location or creative field, and refine results using keywords.
When you click a listing, simply select “Apply on Behance,” write a brief message and submit your application. For best results, Behance’s help centre recommends completing your profile with accurate details about your work experience before applying.
Payments and Pro Subscription
Behance facilitates payments and provides options to handle invoices. The platform introduced Behance Pro in 2024, a subscription that waives platform fees on freelance transactions, organises your work into categories and provides advanced audience analytics.
Upgrading to Pro can also promote your projects via “Project Boost,” a feature that increases your reach and provides detailed engagement metrics.
Optimising Your Behance Profile
1. Complete Your Profile
A polished profile builds trust. Add a professional photo, write a clear description, include links to your website or social media and set a customised banner. Connect your LinkedIn account to earn a verified badge – this simple step signals legitimacy to clients.
2. Curate and Craft Storytelling
Quality matters more than quantity. Showcase only your best work and tell the story behind each project – include mood boards, sketches, process photos and explain the problem you solved. Cohesive mock‑ups and polished presentations build trust and make a strong visual impression.
Share passion projects to show your personality and attract like‑minded clients. Taking the viewer behind the scenes helps them understand your approach, which is essential when they cannot meet you in person.
3. Use the Right Keywords and Tags
Behance’s search is heavily driven by tags. You can add up to 10 tags per project. Use keywords that describe your creative field, industry, style and tools. For example, a UX designer might tag a project with “UI/UX,” “mobile app,” “healthcare,” and “Figma.” Clients often search for specific skills, so accurate tags make your work discoverable.
4. List Services and Availability
Activate the Hire Me button and list your services with clear pricing and timelines. Behance allows you to create custom service packages – such as a logo design package or web design bundle – which display your deliverables and estimated turnaround times. Keep your availability and budget range updated so that you appear in filters when clients search for freelancers.
5. Respond Quickly and Maintain Your Portfolio
Speed matters. Responding to inquiries promptly earns you a “Responds quickly” badge, which increases trust. Keep your portfolio updated by adding new projects and refining existing ones.
Successful creatives note that features and job opportunities often come after years of consistent posting and refinement, so persistence is key.
6. Engage with the Community
Behance isn’t just a portfolio site – it’s a community. Engage authentically by appreciating and commenting on others’ work.
This not only builds relationships but also increases the visibility of your profile in the ecosystem. Following other creatives and participating in curated galleries can lead to collaborations and referrals.
Finding Freelance Jobs on Behance
Browse the Joblist
Behance’s Joblist aggregates freelance and full‑time positions from design‑driven companies. Click the Jobs tab, filter by “Freelance,” and refine by creative field, location or keywords.
Listings range from graphic design and illustration to UX/UI, motion design, photography and more. Since the Joblist is searchable even without an account, it’s a good way to gauge demand before investing time in your profile.
Apply Effectively
When you find a project that fits, click “Apply on Behance” and write a concise, tailored message explaining why you’re right for the job. Link to relevant projects in your portfolio and, if you’ve set up services, mention which package could meet the client’s needs.
Avoid generic applications; show that you understand the client’s brand or product and how your design can solve their problem. Behance’s “Best Practices” guide stresses that your profile should already include accurate details about your experience, so don’t repeat information that’s available there.
Leverage Behance Pro and Project Boost
Investing in Behance Pro can pay off. The Pro plan removes transaction fees and provides advanced analytics. Analytics show who views your profile, where they’re from and which projects attract attention; this data can help you optimise your portfolio and identify potential clients.
Pro members can also use Project Boost to promote specific projects to targeted audiences, increasing visibility. According to case studies, creatives who use Project Boost and share their work on social media have turned curated projects into international client leads.
Network Outside Behance
Share your projects on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) and include a link to your Behance profile.
Use the built‑in embed feature to showcase Behance projects on your personal website or blog. Promoting your work across channels drives traffic to your portfolio and increases the likelihood of clients reaching out.
How to Get Clients on Behance: Best Practices
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Build trust with process and results. Strong visual impressions and narratives help potential clients envision what working with you might be like. Show your process, including sketches, research and iterations, to convey the quality of your thinking.
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Target your niche. Focus your portfolio on the industries you want to work with. Clients look for specialists – a brand manager in tech might skip a generalist and go for someone with multiple SaaS case studies. Use tags and descriptions that align with your niche.
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Ask for feedback. Engage with peers by asking for constructive critiques. Feedback can help you refine your portfolio and signal to clients that you are open to collaboration.
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Show personality. Passion projects reveal your interests and can attract like‑minded clients. They also allow you to experiment with new styles or industries without client restrictions.
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Stay consistent. Success on Behance rarely happens overnight. Illustrator Tung Nam said it took nine years of posting before his work was featured, but once it was, he began receiving multiple freelance inquiries. Consistent uploads and refinement build momentum.
Comparing Behance to Other Creative Job Platforms
Behance vs. Dribbble
Dribbble is another popular portfolio site for designers. It hosts a large network of employers and creative professionals at upwork.com. However, freelance jobs are only available to users with a Pro subscription; you must sign up for a designer account and pay to access contract job listsupwork.comupwork.com.
According to Upwork’s 2025 comparison, a Dribbble Pro membership costs $8 per month when billed annually, and Pro members receive a boost in search results. Dribbble’s strengths include a vibrant community, high‑quality opportunities and an exclusive newsletter, but competition is fierce and new designers must apply to gain access.
By contrast, Behance’s job board and Hire Me features are free, and applying for jobs involves a one‑click processhelp.behance.net. While Behance Pro offers additional benefits, you can still search and apply without paying. Behance is integrated with Adobe tools and supports a wider range of creative disciplines such as photography, motion graphics and product designarc.dev. The trade‑off is competition: there are over 12 million freelancers on Behanceycode.com, so standing out requires a well‑curated portfolio and consistent engagement. Dribbble’s smaller community may mean less competition, but the paywall restricts access to job listings.
Behance vs. Upwork
Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces, spanning all industries. Clients post projects and freelancers submit proposals. To apply, you must spend Connects, a form of virtual currency; freelancers receive around 10 free Connects per month and can purchase more for $0.15 at support.upwork.com.
If a client cancels a project, used Connects are returned to support.upwork.com. Upwork’s fee structure has evolved: starting in 2023, the platform introduced a flat 10% fee on new contracts. Clients pay a 5% service fee plus a one‑time contract initiation fee.
Upwork also offers membership plans; Freelancer Plus costs $19.99 per month and includes 100 Connects and 0% service fee on Direct Contractsupwork.com, while the free plan provides 10 free Connects and charges a service fee (the variable rate ranges from 0% to 15% based on supply and demand)upwork.com. Features like Work Diary for time tracking and Upwork Chat Pro for AI‑powered communication are unique differentiators.
In comparison, Behance requires no bidding currency and doesn’t charge transaction fees unless you upgrade to Pro. The barrier to entry is lower: simply create a portfolio and apply directly via the Joblisthelp.behance.net. For designers, Behance provides a curated environment focused on visual work, whereas Upwork hosts jobs across tech, writing, marketing and more.
However, Upwork may offer a broader range of contract types, including long‑term and hourly work. Upwork’s review system heavily influences your ability to win jobsycode.com, making it challenging for newcomers. Behance evaluates you primarily on the quality of your portfolio; there are no client reviews or star ratings.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Behance | Free job board and Hire Me feature; integrated with Adobe; broad reach and one‑click applicationshelp.behance.net; ability to showcase detailed case studies; advanced analytics and 0% fees with Probehance.net. | Highly competitive—over 12 million freelancersycode.com; success depends on portfolio quality and consistent posting on behance.net. |
| Dribbble | Large design‑focused community upwork.com; Pro members get search boost and high‑quality leads upwork.com; access to an exclusive newsletterycode.com. | Must purchase Pro subscription ($8/month) to access freelance job boardupwork.comupwork.com; new designers must apply for a designer account and may not be accepted. |
| Upwork | Huge marketplace across all industries; offers short‑ and long‑term projects.dev; features like Work Diary and Chat Proarc.dev; clients can post jobs for free. | Requires Connects to bid (10 free per month; $0.15 each thereafter)support.upwork.com; 10% service fee on new contractswise.com plus client feeswise.com; review system can make it hard for new freelancersycode.com. |
Final Tips for Success on Behance
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Focus on storytelling and process. Case studies that explain your problem‑solving approach can turn projects into paying clients. Clients want to see how you think, not just the final design.
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Use analytics to refine. Behance Pro’s audience analytics show which projects attract attention. Use this data to identify your most marketable work and iterate on your portfolio.
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Promote across channels. Don’t rely solely on Behance; share your projects on social media and your personal websitebehance.net. Embedding your portfolio on blogs or newsletters helps reach clients who aren’t active on Behance.
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Stay organised. Group your projects into categories using Behance Pro. This makes it easier for clients to navigate your portfolio.
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Be patient and persistent. Many creatives don’t land their first clients overnight. Consistency, engagement and continual improvement are essential.
Conclusion
Behance has become much more than a gallery of inspiration. Its combination of portfolio, social network and job board positions it as one of the best creative job platforms for freelancers. By optimising your profile, crafting compelling case studies and using tools like Hire Me, analytics and Project Boost, you can turn your Behance presence into a client acquisition engine.
When compared to Dribbble and Upwork, Behance offers a balance of low barrier to entry, rich storytelling capabilities and targeted job listings. However, competition is fierce, so success requires strategy and persistence.
Expand your reach beyond Behance. List your portfolio on internationalbusinesslisting.com to connect with international businesses seeking creative talent. A multi‑platform strategy ensures that your skills are visible to clients wherever they are looking for freelance design services.

